Dale Earnhardt Jr: I feel sadness in my heart for the Ward family

DOVER, DE – SEPTEMBER 26: Dale Earnhardt Jr., driver of the #88 National Guard Chevrolet, sits in his car during qualifying for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series AAA 400 at Dover International Speedway on September 26, 2014 in Dover, Delaware. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)

Two days after NASCAR champion Tony Stewart was cleared by a New York grand jury NASCAR is preparing to race this weekend at Dover International Speedway. Friday morning prior to the first practices and qualifying several drivers met with the media. Among the topics were the first reactions to the decision by the grand jury not to proceed with charges. Stewart was involved in an on track incident on August 9th in which 20-year-old Kevin Ward Jr. was killed.

Ontario County District Attorney Michael Tantillo, released the grand jury’s recommendation Thursday afternoon. The DA elected to present the findings to a grand jury on September 16th after evidence gathered by the Ontario County New York Sheriff’s office into the August 9th accident was handed over. Stewart could have been charged with second-degree manslaughter under New York law if prosecutors believed he “recklessly caused the death of another person” according to legal experts; negligent homicide was another possibility.

Friday Hendrick Motorsports driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. said he really hadn’t paid very close attention to what had been happening, but let the process play out. MORE>>>